January 10, 2024, Mumbai: In a recent ruling by Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena has been declared the authentic Shiv Sena, dealing a setback to Uddhav Thackeray’s camp. The decision comes after a long-awaited order on the disqualification plea filed by both factions against each other.
Disqualification Plea Dismissed
Speaker Narwekar dismissed the disqualification pleas against both factions, stating that the evidence provided by Sunil Prabhu and Bharat Gogawale, whips of Shiv Sena (UBT) and Shiv Sena, respectively, was insufficient. Prabhu claimed to have sent a whip notice via WhatsApp, but no concrete evidence was produced, leading to the dismissal of the plea against Eknath Shinde’s camp.
Shinde Faction Recognized
Narwekar, in his ruling, recognized the Shinde faction as the ‘real’ Shiv Sena and emphasized that Uddhav Thackeray has no authority to remove anyone from the party. The decision was based on the party constitution available with the Election Commission, dated 1999, and rejected the amendments made in 2018 due to the absence of Thackeray’s signatures.
Thackeray’s Response
Uddhav Thackeray expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling, claiming that the Speaker did not follow the orders of the Supreme Court. Thackeray questioned the validity of the constitution used in the decision and urged the Supreme Court to take suo moto action against Speaker Narwekar.
Political Repercussions
The ruling has significant political implications, with Shinde seeing it as a boost to the party’s internal democracy. The decision has raised discussions about Shinde’s continued position as Chief Minister, adding complexity to the already tumultuous political landscape in Maharashtra.
Supreme Court Challenge
Uddhav Thackeray, facing challenges after losing the party symbol and name, is reportedly gearing up to approach the Supreme Court against Speaker Narwekar’s order. Thackeray believes the strategy of the rival faction is to prolong the issue until the Lok Sabha election and has urged the Supreme Court to resolve the matter before then.
In summary, Speaker Narwekar’s ruling has declared the Shinde faction as the ‘real’ Shiv Sena, setting the stage for potential legal battles and further political turmoil in Maharashtra.
